Any suggestions on the best place to buy these. People sometimes come into the store where I work and look at the mesh muzzles for some of the issues you mentioned. I tell them the mesh ones are not appropriate, they need a basket muzzle, but I'm not sure where they can get them.

Is there a brand you recommend, or anything in particular people should look for in a good one?

I so agree with this...with the caveat of course that even with a well-fitted basket muzzle that allows the dog to pant and drink - which is the big advantage of a basket over a mesh muzzle - you still shouldn't leave a dog muzzled when unsupervised. If he eats socks and chews on electric cords - or anything else for that matter - he needs to be crated when you aren't around to keep an eye on him.
As for places to get muzzles, I have ordered several from http://www.dogmuzzle.com/
Good prices, good service and a vast array of sizes and shapes with good advice on measuring your dog. You can also email them for help. The "Italian Basket" muzzles are plastic and are less likely to inflict a bruise when your dog pokes you with his nose :-) But they have a slimmer profile so are only suited to slender nosed dogs (Collies, Dobermans, Shepherds, Greyhounds etc). For dogs with boxier muzzles you need the regular wire basket muzzles. Ditto with a dog who IS aggressive - the wire muzzles are safer.
They also have sizes for smush-faced dogs like Boxers.
I am not affiliated with them, just a satisfied customer!

The beige muzzle in the photo in the article is an Italian basket style... but it's upside down! :-)

I agree with you, Dr. Kuhly. I have a pit-mastiff mix, male intact, that is 8 years old. Although, he should have been neutered long ago, he was not. Now it is too late, but he does have a "fear" of other dogs. When he was only 10 months old, we we attacked by two loose medium size dogs; he was on the leash and I was tangled and dragged across the street, helpless until someone came to help. He, my "Buddy Boy", was only protecting me (and I did get bitten on my legs and arms). Buddy injured one dog so badly that it died hours later; the owner refused Veteranary care--"TOO EXPENSIVE", he said. In any event, because Buddy has PitBull blood in him, it was a legal battle to save his life, which I finally did. Now, I do take precautions, and he shakes terribly when he sees another dog running loose or comming toward us. The muzzle helps, but the traumatic stress is still there. I think everyone should consider others before letting any dog run loose in the area.

Thank you.

SRBATES

"a cage muzzle (aka, basket muzzle) doesn’t scream, 'I’m so cute you gotta pet me!' " Oh, but it does to me! That basket muzzle tells me the owner is responsible and cares, about the dog AND others. I love to ask to pet a muzzled dog and I feel much safer petting a new friend who is muzzled. I have basket muzzle for all my girls and they were them in many public places, including the vet which cuts down on worries of running into a snarky situation with another dog. I just wish more people would muzzle their "I can't believe she just bit" dogs. My current source is http://andrewsimports.com/shop/ and I've also ordered from http://www.fordogtrainers.com/ which has directions for measuring your dog's muzzle here http://www.fordogtrainers.com/sizingdiagramformuzzlesizing.aspx. Haven't found one that has decent padding across the nose bridge in years but some folded 4" gauze pads secured to the nose side of the leather bridge on the muzzle with medical tape does the job nicely to prevent rub discomfort.